Investigation Cases

Written By

Investigator- Lydia R.

 

 

 

The Farmer Restaurant (formerly Pleasanton Hotel)

Pleasanton, California

June 30, 2009

 

The investigation began at around 10 pm that evening.   We split into teams of two while one investigator monitored the cameras.  Two investigators went upstairs and two went into the kitchen area.  The evening seemed very quiet except for the appliance noise in the kitchen.  Most appliances were still running and there was a huge breaker box immediately off to the left of the kitchen.  This posed huge amounts of electromagnetic fields.  All of the investigators agreed the kitchen had an unusual feel to it.  We pretty much credited the EMF’s to this feeling. 

Upstairs:  Two investigators – cameras placed at beginning of entrance facing down hall.  Other cam is placed at entrance to balcony, facing down hall - both cams have audio recorders under them.  The first capture starts shortly after the upstairs recorder is set up.  The investigator leaves, and in less than two minutes we hear the sound an opening door No one is upstairs at this time.  Our two female investigators enter five minutes later began an EVP (electronic voice phenomenon) session, asking simple questions to evoke response.  The upstairs did have quite a bit of external noise stemming from the traffic outside, as well as the businesses across the street. We were easily able to differentiate the outside noises.   Our sessions did pick up a few prime EVP’s.  An investigator begins to speak and describes what the recorder in the room saying, “The box will pick up your voice and you can say what you need to say to us.”  This gets a sharp “NO”  possibly Asian?  Our investigators move to the first open office on the right and continue the session.  In the hall the recorder close to the balcony, a female sigh is heard.  Remember, our investigators are not in the hall at this time.  The sigh is neither investigator and is very close to the recorder judging by the volume. Also at this time a whisper, possible male sigh is heard.   We also hear a whisper close to the recorder. The investigators come back to the hall and ask “Knock on the wall really loud” which gets a sharp response. Next EVP was caught on the handheld cameras video and audio.  The investigator is commenting on how they keep hearing knocking to their right as they sit at the cross of the hall.  You can hear the taps and then two respective knocks as the investigator requests.  Our male investigators took a shot at the upstairs and request for them to knock.  The investigator then asks “Are you still in here with us?”  To which a voice responds: “I’m here” Follows with an inaudible response and then our EMF detector begins to alarm – was this someone making contact?

Bar area: Camera in left hand corner at back of dance floor facing bar – recorder below cam: we caught some voices not our own, the first starts while the investigators are talking, in the middle of the conversation we hear a voice ask: “Are you free?”  The weirdest EVP goes to this exclamation made, when all investigators were not present.  The area is empty at this point.    Another two clips capture male voices asking “Why?”

Kitchen: Camera placed at back entrance side of kitchen, facing the freezer with IR Strobe – recorder beside cam:  As I mentioned before, the kitchen was quite noisy.  One investigator couldn’t hear it at the time, but he got a very clear response to his question.  “Are you female, and are you in this room, yes or no?”  A clear response “Yes” It doesn’t really sound female, but how would you sound without vocal chords? the next is a video and audio clip from a handheld cam where two investigators are asking if anyone is in the room with them.  You can hear additional breathy voices in the middle of the conversation. “Go ahead” is a breathy EVP caught when two investigators are asking it to make contact.

Overall this was a total of 15 EVP’s, some which we’re intelligent in nature, as they responded to questions posed.  The rest, such as the sighs and in audible noises could be attributed to residual energies left behind in the building.  We have come to the conclusion there are things here we could not explain away.  Some ghosts of the past are still here, apparently. 

 

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Point Sur Lighthouse, California

August 30th 2009

Perched on a huge volcanic rock on the shores of Big Sur is the Point Sur Light Station.  This looming landmark was built in 1887.  We were about to scale it and set up our investigation.  It doesn’t have a looming history of deaths or Light keeps gone mad, but it does offer an intense taste of what it was like to live on the rock, isolated from town. 

We arrived shortly before sunset, and the wind was already proving to be an enemy.  As the night progressed, it became more and more like a freight train.  Five investigators total, we unpacked our equipment and began set up.   We set up our base on the first floor of the Assistant Light Keepers Quarters or “Triplex” as it known.  At one time up to three families lived in these quarters, sometimes single men.  Small quarters divided into three small apartments.  These were very small rooms on the third level and you really got a cramped feeling here.   We set up a camera in the triplex on the third level placed a digital audio recorder with this camera as well as one in the second level.   Some of the claims in this building range from coughing heard to footsteps.

The next location would be across the yard to the main light keeper’s quarters.  This was a two story building.  We set up three cameras total in this location, two on the first floor, and one on the second floor.  In this building some of the claims were that of footsteps going up and down the stairwell, as well as wood pieces that would move from one room to another on their own volition on a daily basis.  Audio recorders were placed downstairs by the kitchen area as well in the family room on the mantle.  One was placed upstairs in the room to the left as you came upstairs.  At approx 9:36 pm we began our first EVP session in the main light keepers house.  Four investigators conducted the session, there were some moments when downstairs in the front room we heard voices.  When we went upstairs we could hear what sounded like footsteps on the stairs.  On the audio in the MLKQ proved to be quite interesting, first capturing a male voice when no one was present in the house, as well as an recording of the footsteps on the stairs and downstairs as the team did a session upstairs.  The investigators even remarked they could hear the footsteps coming up the stairs.  One EMF detector that went off in the kitchen area downstairs even had an accompanying “yeah” after the alarm.   Unfortunately on the video side of things, our cameras were not operating correctly.  The second story camera had all power turned to the off position, and when we did a checked turned them on, but then the IR lights were not working correctly.  The two downstairs cameras did work, yet nothing was captured.

Two investigators did go to the lighthouse “fog room” to do an EVP session.  The investigators used only audio capture, carrying two recorders.  What was caught was one male voice saying “Get out” This was captured on both recorders.  Also a response to a question asked was answered with a male “Yes.”

Lastly the triplex proved to be interesting.  Investigators that went to the third floor of the triplex did feel uneasy there.  EMF sweep proved to have hits that could not be explained.  Some activity proved to be centered on a particular investigator, who when he had the Tri-field showed extreme jumps at questions.  Quite a bit of drafts did make us uneasy when on the third level.  There was audio picked up at this time with a child like voice as well as female voices.  Two audio recorders placed on the second level of the triplex failed into two hours of recording.  They turned off on their own.   A female voice exclaimed “I’m freezing here” and a simple “can you communicate with us was followed with a hushed female answer of “Yes.”  All in all the triplex was very interesting.  It had that “feel.”  The evidence was mainly audio.  With over a dozen EVP’s we are convinced that someone is still there in those empty rooms.  All you have to do is listen.

We began wrap up at 2:30 am.  Tired and wind still blowing as well as fog thick as pea soup.  We made our way down the rock.   This place was amazing.  We really are so appreciative to have been given the opportunity to investigate this true treasure.  The light station is in the midst of renovation, however you can still tour it, and they even do ghost tours and day tours.  It is a wonderful piece of history, and it shows the dedication of these men and their families to light the way to many a traveler on the high seas.  Visit: http://www.pointsur.org/ for more information. 

Lydia Robles, Co-founder, Lead Investigator - Ghost Explorers.

 

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Oak Knoll Cemetery, Livermore California

May 10, 2009

When we pass away, and our last rights and wishes are carried out, we believe our physical bodies will be laid to rest.  Perhaps in a grave yard on the top of a hill, with our families close by.  To respectfully let the body decay down into the earth as most do.  After you are buried, and time passes - your monument gets forgotten or vandalized - what does that do to a person’s spirit?  When we see burial sites in disarray, we frown and are upset that it could happen.  When it does, do those inhabitants protest?  Bayside decided to find out. 

Anthony and I decided to take a climb up a small hillside in Livermore.  We had heard legend that the grounds were haunted.  No specific stories, but we learned that over a hundred years ago, the hillside was known as Oak Knoll Pioneer Cemetery.  To our astonishment, our research confirmed this.  On the hillside, surrounded by beautiful trees, once was a graveyard.  The occupants were interred and over time and with lack of support and funding, fell to ruin.  Forgotten, the place was now a rundown park, where locals litter and some jog the trails, not even realizing they are treading on the dead.  Not a headstone, marker or fence in sight.  The families of the graves contacted, and given an option to disinter, but many remained and to this day still rest on the hill, locals call “boot hill.”

One evening we ventured up.  Separated to each side of the graveyard and began an impromptu EVP session.  Upon review of our audio evidence, we encountered a very clear request of a female saying “Get Out” followed by a distinct growling - not demonic - but more as in frustration.  This was it.  This gave us what we needed.  Let’s pull a team and investigate.

We were not keen on the idea of investigating outdoors, for obvious reasons.  Most obvious is the random noise.  Surrounded by homes and major streets - it would prove to be a challenge.   On Mother’s day May 2009 we began our quest at sundown.  A team of seven investigators hiked the hillside and did EVP sessions and used digital photography to investigate the hill. 

What came out of it was a total of four clear EVP’s.  A response to the question, “Can you tell us your name?”  To which a voice answers “Myrtle” Or “Victor” A clear voice of a male saying “Hey” when only females were present.  One EVP called the name of a member of the team.  The last was a mysterious male voice speaking when only females were present.  The last hours of the investigation proved to be interesting when I and another investigator were able to get significant temperature drops one going as low as 28 degrees in 56 degree average nighttime temps.  We were really experiencing some activity and it was apparent we were being observed by someone coming close and then pulling back.  These seemed to coincide with the increases and decreases in temperature.  The night weather was pretty calm, overall.  So these events really were amazing.

It certainly seems that various entities are still present at oak knoll.  Are they the inhabitants whom are forgotten?  Why do they remain?  The lack of respect for a final resting place comes to mind.  Finding their grave early in some cases, many children in that graveyard.  Are they the ones making contact with the living?  No one knows.  We can tell you, there is someone up there.  They are tired of being forgotten.

 

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Private Residence, San Jose California

December 7, 2008

This investigation took place on Friday November 21, 2008.  We were contacted by a BAGH (Bay Area Ghost Hunters) member in regards to this homeowner’s plight.   Over the course of years she and various family members had experienced activity in her home.  The reports included lights going on and off, various noises, and a few full body apparitions.  The owner was pretty much tired of being frightened.  She actually had stopped sleeping in her bedroom, due to the fact her ceiling fan had turned on by itself one night.  The owner actually thought the entity might be her deceased brother.   She spoke of him when he was alive and how he had an angry and troubled life.  She sensed it was him in the home.

 When we met with her and the family, we discussed the reports and took a look around the house for configuration of camera and recorder setup.   We brought a team consisting of seven individuals.  On the technology side we used our four camera DVR as well as five voice recorders.   EMF, K2 Meter, Digital Thermometer also used.  When baselines were conducted no unusual numbers or spikes detected.   Cameras were placed in the master bedroom, kitchen, office area and living room.  Four digital recorders each placed with a camera and one left in the center of the living room on the coffee table. 

We began the first line of EVP at approximately 9:50 pm.  Teams of three we conducted the sessions.  We used various questioning using the locations history to see if we could get some responses.    The first team did feel a little uneasy in the bedroom.  Also reporting some balance issues in the office area.  One member even said she was feeling a bit faint.  We felt a fun house type of effect.   The second team went in and directed it’s questioning at the brother.    During this time the investigators reported no audible responses.  It was pretty quiet and cold.  No unusual activity.  The third team went in and utilized a scrabble game to stoke up some activity.  (Apparently the brother used to come over and play scrabble with his sister) Nothing.  After this session we decided to call it a night.

Two AM and we packed up.  We had a lot to review over the next week.  The review consisted of 23 hours of audio and 18 hours of video.   Upon review no video evidence was captured.  On the other side was the audio evidence.  We did get at least five sturdy EVP’s.  The top gun was the EVP of an investigator posing the question: “Can you show yourself to us?”  The answer of “No” immediately after.  We were picking up a male presence that was noted in several recordings.  We also had a growling or grunting sound with the sound of the recorder being moved, with no one present in the room.  Responses to knocks (we use “shave and a haircut” knocks) the two knocks were responded back to us.  The entity also seemed to like avoiding us.  When a question was asked in the kitchen, a response was heard in the office area recorder, for example.  Never in the room where the question was posed. 

In conclusion - do we think it’s haunted?  There is definitely a presence there.  It was interacting.  Though we could not determine it was the brother.  We can say something is there.  The next step?   We are putting the owner in touch with a “cleaner.” This person will attempt to move the entity on.  Let’s hope for the best.  Thanks to all who investigated with us.  You made this a success.

 

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Murphy's Historic Hotel, Murphy’s California

November 10, 2008otel, Murphy’s California

A little history: The Murphy’s Hotel was first opened in the summer of 1856 by James Sperry and John Perry, and was known for many years as the Sperry & Perry Hotel.  Notable guests who stayed at the Murphy’s Hotel during its early years include Mark Twain, Horatio Algiers Jr., John Jacob Astor, Thomas J. Lipton, J.P. Morgan, and former President Ulysses S. Grant.  Almost 150 years after it first opened, the Murphy’s Hotel still hosts travelers touring the central Mother Lode region of California.

We stayed at the Historic Murphy’s Hotel during the Halloween weekend October 31st- November 1st 2008.   We attended the “Murphy’s Most Haunted” event.  This was a two day event; put on by a group called “California Haunts” The purpose is to give people an insight to the world of paranormal investigation.  It was ghost tour and dinner complete with a presentation of ghost hunting 101, a few psychics on hand to give some insight, and tour of the reportedly haunted Murphy’s Hotel.

Not bad as far as dinner and presentation, the group was pretty organized, and very friendly.  Experienced researchers ourselves, we were able to ask questions and share our experiences as well.  They seemed genuinely interested and avid lovers of what they do. 

Not a formal investigation, on Halloween night we were able to convince the barkeeps to let us stay after the bar shut down to do an EVP session.  One even stayed around and listened to our questions.  We were told of reported activity in their main dining room.   Eleanor was the spirit of an employee who we were told, haunts the hotel, mainly in the dining room.  She likes to rearrange tables and slams things around the kitchen.  She likes things her way, and shows her dislike if otherwise. Starting a session at 1:15am that morning, we asked various questions.  The only responses we seemed to get were noises like bangs.  No audible voices.  A lot of outside noise as well since it was Halloween.

The next evening we made arrangements to do an EVP session in the Mark Twain Ballroom.  This was a grand ballroom in the center of the second floor.  There were six people, five women and one man.  Sitting at a circular table, one investigator placed a drinking glass with a butter knife next to it, in the center of the table.  Questions began, and we right away received loud bangs from within the ballroom.  They seemed to come from one corner of the room.  We also heard movement coming from the ballroom kitchen.  Small room to the side of us where there was a sink and storage area.  As the questions continued, the noises grew louder; to the extent one investigator had to check the kitchen area.  He did a search and found nothing.  Once again the noises increased, the psychic in attendance made the remark she could see a man in the kitchen.  He did not want to come to us.  She mentioned she could see his orb floating.  We did catch one picture of an orb floating about the doorframe.  As one question was asked, the glass on the table was “clinked” More noises in the kitchen, as if someone was in there cleaning up.  Almost a dragging of feet.  More bangs.  This time two investigators checked the kitchen.  Nothing.   I was really starting to feel uncomfortable.  I felt like this presence was getting bolder.   We decided that we would end the session.  We said our thanks and left.

 

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Riboli Cottage Investigation, Livermore California

November 8th 2008

This investigation took place on October 17, 2008.  The occupants of this historical 127 year old home, converted to office of the Livermore Downtown Association, had offered their office to investigation.  BPS had contacted the association in regards to information on another location in town.  When we interviewed the staff, we were given details of a mischievous spirit, one who liked to turn lights off and on, set off the alarms and play with the credit card transaction machine.  We made arrangements to investigate.

Some history on Riboli Cottage, this house belongs to the Riboli Family, long time winemakers.  The house is part of the “compound” surrounded by another house and what used to be the cellars.  The staff showed us an article captured from a local paper in 1896, with a story of an occupant renting a room in the cottage.  The article was a detail of his suicide.  The man, Matthaus Wolfmaier had tried twice before to end his life, with his third attempt via strychnine poisoning - had finally succeeded.   That was August 30th 1896.  Matthaus had owned a business in the downtown area, when he didn’t show up to open the store, his neighbor on the town’s main street went to check on him and found him. 

The original team consisted of two men, three women.  We also were joined by a merchant who owned a business in town, a cameraman running video of our investigation for the local access channel and the CEO of the Livermore Downtown Association.  Total of four men and four women.

Equipment: Four IR cameras one in each room of the house and one in the cellar.  One camcorder placed in the front office as you enter the house.  This was placed on a tripod to capture a long hallway that ran the length of the house.   Three digital voice recorders, one with Franks box.  EMF, and thermometer.  Two digital picture cameras as well.

The investigation began promptly at 10:00pm.  We had a lot of external noise from a bar located directly behind the house that was having karaoke night.  The teams went in groups of four to five.  The rooms were swept with EMF, which posed no usual readings.  Temperature was normal, no fluctuation.  3 EVP sessions were conducted questions were varied.  One team member did use a Franks Box (white noise maker) this is used to reach higher and low ranges on the audio to pick up clear voices.

An interesting event that was noted was that in the center room of the house, a closet door that was closed was now open.  The investigators tightly shut and locked the slide pin lock on this door.  On the third EVP session, we started in the same center room.  We were surprised to find the door unlocked and open again.  Frustrated, we once again shoved the door shut tightly and slid the lock into place.  As we began the EVP session, upon asking the spirit to make something happen, the closet door swung open with a huge rush of air we all felt.  The some of us jumped, it was forceful.  Immediately looked at the door once more, shutting and locking it testing the surrounding floor stomping and jumping to make sure it wasn’t an old house and floor doing the opening.   We couldn’t debunk.

In one room we were asking questions and when asked to make a noise, the credit card transaction machine turned on and was performing a transaction.  This startled us, but we kept going.  Later we found this was an automatic transaction the machine performs nightly.    Other rooms proved no activity, we even went into the cellar, and this had no activity whatsoever. 

Review of the audio and video proved interesting.  We were able to catch video of the center room closet door opening by itself with no persons in the room.  The camera did not have audio; however we had placed an audio recorder in the room.  With this were able to capture the audio to go with the video of the door opening on its own.  Amazing!  You can hear a few footsteps, the pin lock sliding across on the door and the door opening.  It’s really fascinating. 

Additionally we caught many EVP’s of a male voice, complete with what sounds to be a German accent, which was able to answer questions on who works at the office, naming one of the staff members by name.  When one investigator remarks “Thank you...” a voice responds “Welkommen” meaning welcome in German.  Clear as day.  The last remarkable piece of evidence which really sealed the deal, so to speak was the audio caught by the stand alone camcorder in the room next to us during the closet opening in front of the crew.   When that door flew open and we jumped up, a cackling laughter is caught on the audio from that camcorder.  The laughter sends chills up your spine.  It’s seriously creepy.  Someone was having a great time at our expense!  We also had a great audio captured of a man’s raspy voice saying “help” and a video piece of an electrical disturbance which affects the camera for about half a minute and then stops.   Unexplainable.

We presented the evidence to the staff of the Downtown Association.  They were shocked.  Even though they knew something was there, it was different having it presented to them via our evidence.  They had been there four years and this solidified their claims.  It’s haunted.

 

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